Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-13
CHARLESTON BLUEC0ATS.
THE CITY COUNCIL PUTS ITS
FOOT ON The DEAL.

fHJO ON lft ~ DIES He
Reconsideration or ResiguatiOn on the
Part OF the CommiasiOners Dem 'Dded
Re piciug Over the Post - flee APP
Propri .tion-Deeper Water on the Bar
Dec AIRED a Necessity If the City Is to
Pick Herself Out of Adversity.
CHARLESTON, Jan. 1.-THE readers OF
the MORNING NEWS will recall the
police muddle created by the deal of the
Police Commissioners last week. IL was
stated in this correspondence that the
action of the board, the evident result of
deal" bad excited tie popular wrath,
and would doubtless meet the coDdemna-
ton of the City Council. The prediction
has been verified. The Council, at Its
meeting last night. refused to confirm the
action of the board and referred the
whole matter back to them. In the dis
cussion that ensued the Mayor plainly
said that this commun ity would not toll
crate any consolidation which lett out
Lieut.. Fordham, the only coored otncer
on the force. This man was first placed
on the force by radical ad-
minlstration. There were times
in Charleston, prior To 1876. when
tie negroes bad entire control OF all pub
lie affairs, State, county aud municipal,
and VIII n white man was considered by
public officials to be lit:Ie better thau a
dog. It was IN those days that FOrdnam
proved the pure metal of which he was
made. He stood like a stone wall between
the Waite people and the howliug black
mob that oppressed them. Besides, be is
decent man, Il cool, brave and deter
mined Office, VIGOROUSLY ole Of the best
on the force, and yet has never lost his re-
spect Tor white people.
LAYING DOWN THE LAW.
Charleston will not consent for such
man TO be Ousted, aud the commissioners
Will have either 10 recognize that lact or
''resi. n" as was plainly minated by The
City Council last night. The true aud
the easiest way Of efecting the cOnsOlida-
lion. as was said by the Mayor during the
meeting. and the plan which the Com
missioners would more naturally have
adopted had there not been
deal, was to have adopted the
rule Of seniority, remandug the two ju-
Nor officers to the grade OF sergeants,
with promise OF promotion in the regular
order whenever vacancies occurred. This
was not done. On the contrary, il is
charged, the member OF the board DELHI
erately agreed to make deal 10 retain
their favOrItes iii Olhce, and thus stacked
the cards. The only member OF the board
who refused TO 20 into this arrangement
was Alderman Eckel, VINO, as soon as the
deal WAS made, resigned. The upSnoC OF
the matter Will be that the CommIssl oners
will either have to reconsider their action
and adopt the seniority plan or resign.
CHARLEsToN's NEW POST OFFICE.
Charleston is to-day rejoicing over her
good fortune in securing Che passage of
the bill appropriatng 100000 for the
building of new post office and court
house. The bill is very valuable to
the city in -5pOre respects than one.
In the first TkKne old post office Is ut
terly unn' Sthe apatlon, so 9adly was IL
wreckediO IN no earthquake. In fact, 1t is
only held Gy a forest of props which
'inslose and surround 1t. In the sec nd
place the present police station Is almOst
equally as badly wrecked. The site OF
the police station would be an admirable
one for the new Federal build
ing and the city hopes to
sell it to the government tor that purpose
1t has secured the grant of piece of land
in the central portion of the city
from the State on which 1T is proposed
with the purchase money OF the old police
station to erect a central police station IN
the heart OF the city, thus dong away
with two stations, one in the upper and
one in The lower wards, and saving con-
siderable amount in the annual expenses |
OF the police department.
1t cannot be denied that the old city |
mas had a hard time of 1t. Az the very |
opening OF the war OF secession she was |
devastated by fire. Then followed four |
years OF siege OF shells and III e. After |
the ar she made an effort 10 pun hers +
together, and was doing very well until |
the cyclone of 1885, hich was a staggcr-
ing blew. But even this did not djsnay |
her. The damages, nearly $2,00O,C00, |
were repaired aud tie old place once
more started out TO try and catch up in
the race. Then came the eartnquake
Was ever a city subjected to such
a chapter Of caamltiesy Her only
hope now is In the sympathy and help Of
the ia ion. Having secured this appro-
priation Tor new post office she mex
begs for deep water on her bar, which
alter all, le per main hope. There can DC
No future for Charleston without This. ard |
hel eyes are now turned longing y 70 tue
uatlOnal capital. begging, hoping, pray |
Ing tor help. Who can refuse II?
WORTHY CITIZENS DEATH.
&Mr. Tnomas OBrien, OF the 1irm OF |
Ehatfee IL O'Brien, died al O'Clock TINS |
morning after long Illness. The Charles !
tonians VINO have made savannah tner |
home, need not be reminded that in the !
death OF Mr.. o. Brien, Charleston has lost |
one OF her most va ued citizens. tie was |
n brave and fearless soldier. an upright |
merchant. u faithful citizen, 4 devo,ed |
fatuer and an earnest Christian. There |
are many men that Charleston could have |
better spared than the genial, gentle, |
public-spiriLed, honest, upright, Tom
U'BrJen.